Slottsbergets hambo å andra valser
(MNW, 1972)
as Rolf Lundqvist å Arbete Å Fritid
Swedish vocals, spoken word
International relevance: *
This is the first album of theirs co-credited to an external
talent. Rolf Lundqvist was a poet and parts of ”Slottsbergets hambo
å andra valser” are him reading pretty peculiar poems. He also
sings to Arbete & Fritid's musical backgrounds of old timey dance
music, rock paraphrases, tango, swing etc. It's more Lundqvist's
album than Arbete & Fritid's and to be honest, it's not very
good. But definitely one of the most puzzling entries in the band's
catalogue.
Käringtand (YTF, 1976)
as Margareta Söderberg, Arbete Och Fritid/Pojkarna på Storholmen
Swedish vocals
as Margareta Söderberg, Arbete Och Fritid/Pojkarna på Storholmen
Swedish vocals
International relevance: **
Margareta Söderberg is a folk singer
who has appeared on several albums, mostly various artists
compilations such as ”Alternativ festival”, ”Röd 1:a maj-fest”
and ”Jordljus – Befria marken”. Pojkarna på Storholmen were a
folk constellation who took their name from a Swedish 1930's movie
and who, to my knowledge, never appeared on any other album than
”Käringtand”
Like ”Slottsbergets hambo” mainly
is Rolf Lundqvist's album, ”Käringtand” is Margareta
Söderberg's. Some songs are performed a capella in a traditional
style that fit the album's folk concept, and Arbete & Fritid
appears on only six of the thirteen tracks, and while Söderberg is a
fine singer, it's Arbete & Fritid's participation that lifts the
album. Particularly good is the last track ”Sången om Moldau”
written by Bertolt Brecht and Hanns Eisler and features some very
fine sax from Roland Keijser.
A live recording of the Söderberg/Arbete & Fritid coupling can be found in "Progglådan", including the wonderful "Höstvisa" (made famous by Swedish/Finnish band Cumulus) not on the original album.
…Sen dansar vi ut (Hurv, 1977)
Instrumental
International relevance: **
With folk fiddler Anders Rosén at the
helm of this double album (released on his Hurv label but released as
Arbete & Fritid only), it's sometimes overlooked and dismissed as
an inferior work of theirs, but is in fact very good. With the tunes
presented in the same way they were recorded it follows a logical
flow, getting more and more intense as it goes. The band's efforts
are excellent and with Rosén being perhaps the best living fiddler
in Sweden, it's an album so enjoyable it certainly should be counted
among their regular releases and accordingly appreciated.
från Käringtand
No comments:
Post a Comment